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Cursive is a funny animal. While most schools aren't even teaching cursive anymore, hand letterers are scrambling to learn different styles in order to practice calligraphy and also help find their signature style.

Recently I read a book (a real, paper book!) called Script & Scribble: The Rise and Fall of Handwriting. While the book isn't as hand lettering focused as I'd hoped, the last chapter was a very interesting dive into asking the question, “Is Handwriting Important?”

You can guess my answer is a huge resounding YES, especially as a base for hand lettering and calligraphy. The super interesting thing about this chapter also is it explored different cursive teaching methods as of late, starting with the very scripty and elegant Spencerian script and ending with the very upright and almost-typeface looking “Handwriting Without Tears” method.

I wanted to share these five varieties with you, as I think it's important we go back to our roots, whip out some lined paper, and simply practice our handwriting with purpose.

Discover your own hand lettering style by exploring these five cursive methods!